After the apocalypse, water sources had all been contaminated. They were murky and filthy, filled with mutated aquatic creatures, and completely unfit for human consumption. The water they drank came from water-type ability users within the base. However, ability users had limited power and could only produce a certain amount each day, and priority was always given to the base’s leaders. As a result, water was even more expensive than food.
Yet here, such clear, clean water was actually used for bathing.
Su Qingqing could no longer remember how long it had been since she last bathed like this. Normally, when she became too dirty to endure, she would only dampen a cloth with a tiny bit of water and wipe herself down before calling it done.
Soon, the water turned warm. A faint mist rose in the bathroom. Su Qingqing stepped beneath the showerhead, and water at just the right temperature soaked her body instantly. A wave of comfort swept through her, as if even her pores had opened. At that moment, her mind could no longer hold anything else. All she wanted was to enjoy a proper bath.
She opened her mouth and let the water flow in. It carried a faint sweetness.
Su Qingqing endured it again and again, but in the end, her eyes still turned red.
When she finally came out, it was already an hour later. She had washed herself over and over before the grime was completely gone. As she stepped out, she felt a bit embarrassed. Without realizing it, she had bathed for far too long and used so much water.
Her gaze fell curiously on a robot that looked like a trash can. It was cleaning the stains on the floor. She watched as it lifted its “skull lid” and took out a dry cloth, carefully wiping the wet patches on the ground clean.
Its movements were so meticulous that it resembled someone with an extreme attention to detail.
“Um… sorry, I used so much water. How many crystal cores does it cost? I’ll pay you for it.” Su Qingqing walked into the kitchen and said this to Miao Suisui, who was busy cooking.
“No need, this is complimentary. Come eat the noodles, they’re ready. The flour is made from wheat grown in our town, it tastes really good.” Miao Suisui never missed a chance to promote her town.
“Grown here? You can actually grow crops here?” Su Qingqing felt that the shock she experienced today exceeded everything she had gone through in all these years combined.
After the apocalypse, the soil was no longer suitable for crops. Fresh produce was almost impossible to obtain. What people ate most often was dry rations made from one of the few edible wild plants left. Not only did it taste terrible, it also scratched the throat. Although plant-type ability users could purify a small portion of soil and seeds for cultivation, they only served the high-ranking officials of each base. For ordinary people, getting even a little fresh food was harder than ascending to the heavens. Even when it was available for sale, the price was outrageously high.
Just like this time, only the crystal core and horn of an eighth-level mutated rhinoceros could be exchanged for some rations, water, and a small bag of rice.
“Yes, you can.” Miao Suisui nodded. Not only could they grow crops, but her wheat grew exceptionally well and matured quickly. There was already quite a stockpile of flour in the warehouse. Even if she fried, boiled, or made noodles in different ways for three meals a day, she could not possibly finish it all by herself.
The aroma of the food in front of her continuously drifted into Su Qingqing’s nose. She swallowed. Her guard had gradually lowered more and more inside this house. A thought even began to form in her heart, if only she could live here forever.
She picked up a slightly uneven noodle, clearly not expertly kneaded, and put it into her mouth. The natural sweetness of the flour spread across her tongue. The seasoning was actually quite simple, but Miao Suisui had been right, the wheat from this town was truly excellent.
After finishing the entire bowl, including the soup, Su Qingqing felt warmth return to her body.
Outside, the sky had already darkened. Miao Suisui brought Su Qingqing to the thatched hut.
The robot in the hall still stood with bright, attentive eyes, diligently guarding its post.
“Good evening, Mayor.” The robot’s mechanical voice was not stiff, and sounded quite pleasant.
“I’ve brought a guest to stay. She’s staying for one day,” Miao Suisui said to the robot.
The robot began scanning Su Qingqing’s facial information and displayed a floating 3D lodging form for her to fill out. It was Miao Suisui’s first time seeing such a process, so she leaned over to take a look. Su Qingqing’s name and age were marked with asterisks, indicating that privacy protection was quite thorough.
No additional information was required. The robot retracted the form.
“Miss Su’s room is A101. Please use facial recognition to unlock. Check-out time is tomorrow at 8 PM. Do you require toiletries? One set costs two Level 1 crystal cores.”
Su Qingqing took out two crystal cores and placed them in front of the robot, which stored them inside its body.
“Understood. Toiletries have been prepared. We wish you a pleasant stay.”
“Th… thank you,” Su Qingqing replied somewhat awkwardly.
Under Miao Suisui’s guidance, Su Qingqing learned how to use the facial recognition system.
With a beep, the door to Room A101 opened, and the entire interior came into view.
Su Qingqing felt as though the taut string in her heart had been plucked once again. She did not even dare to take a step forward. Doubt surged within her, was everything in front of her real? Could it be that she was actually on the brink of death, and everything that had just happened was merely a final illusion?
“Why aren’t you going in?”
Miao Suisui’s voice broke her train of thought. Su Qingqing responded with a quiet “oh” and stepped inside.
“There’s purified water there, you can drink it directly. There’s an induction cooker, so you can boil water. The bathroom has hot water available 24 hours a day. The bed sheets and covers are clean. Oh, and if you get hungry, I have flour available. You can use the kettle to make something simple. If you need anything, just come to my house. Get a good rest, good night.”
Su Qingqing listened carefully to everything Miao Suisui said, then replied with a “good night.”
The door closed, and the room fell completely silent. Su Qingqing closed her eyes. There were no roars of mutated beasts or zombies here, nor the sounds of people grinding their teeth, snoring, passing gas, or talking in a crowded tent. It was so quiet that it felt like she had entered another world.
She began to think about the mayor and this mysterious, extraordinary town. In fact, she had already been wondering about it since she first arrived, but her thoughts had constantly been interrupted by new discoveries.
After thinking for a long time without reaching any conclusion, she let it go. The apocalypse itself had already arrived, so such surreal things seemed easier to accept.
She lifted the curtain and lay down on the bed without changing her clothes. The mattress was neither too soft nor too hard, but perfectly suited to the human body.
She had not slept on a bed for five years. To prevent sudden attacks from mutated vines, both above ground and in basements, the floors had been covered with steel plates specifically designed to counter mutated plants, developed in the third year of the apocalypse. When they slept in tents, they simply laid down a thin layer of cardboard and clothing and lay on top of it.
In the apocalypse, just staying alive required tremendous effort. Who would still care about whether a bed was comfortable? She was usually so exhausted that she fell asleep the moment she lay down.
But now, lying on this warm bed, she could not help but let out a soft sigh.
The blanket was unusually warm and carried a faint fragrance. Su Qingqing closed her eyes. If only her parents and younger sister could be here as well.
She thought she would not be able to fall asleep, but soon, she drifted into a deep sleep.
It was a dreamless night. When she opened her eyes again, the sun was already high in the sky. Even she was a little surprised. Ever since the apocalypse began, she had not slept until waking naturally for a very long time.
Su Qingqing got up and poured herself a glass of water. The water in the glass was clear and clean, with a faint sweetness when she drank it. She could not help but drink an entire glass.
The towel and toothbrush were disposable, and there was even a tube of toothpaste.
She remembered that before leaving, the mayor had quietly told her that anything she had paid for could be taken away.
After washing up, she looked at her refreshed reflection in the mirror and gradually made up her mind.
“You’re leaving already? Not staying a few more days? There’s a discount if you stay for a month,” Miao Suisui said, holding a freshly steamed flower roll, looking at her expectantly.
“I have to go back today. My family is still waiting for me at the base. I also came here for another matter.” Su Qingqing took out five Level 2 crystal cores and eighty Level 1 crystal cores from her bag. “Please reserve a room for me. This is for one month. I’ll be back soon.”
Miao Suisui’s emotions rose and fell like a roller coaster. Before she could even think of how to persuade her to stay, the other party had already taken the initiative to extend her stay.
With these crystal cores, the town could be upgraded. Overjoyed, Miao Suisui stuffed a flower roll into Su Qingqing’s hands.
She even patted her chest and promised that she would definitely reserve a room for her.
Before leaving, Su Qingqing spent twenty Level 1 crystal cores to buy a tray of flower rolls personally made by Miao Suisui, and filled her own bottle with water.
Miao Suisui stood at the gate, watching Su Qingqing leave. The slender girl carried a small bag over her shoulder and walked forward in large strides, her steps much lighter than before.
The mutated rhinoceros at the gate had already left after failing to find its target. Since she no longer needed to deliberately search for mutated beasts, Su Qingqing’s return journey was much faster.
She deliberately chose routes with fewer mutated plants, animals, and zombies, and returned to the base in just a day and a half.
Meanwhile, Miao Suisui was checking her system panel.
The town’s crystal core income had reached one hundred Level 1 cores, upgrading it to Level 2.
Two more crude thatched huts had been added, and a simple general store had been unlocked. In agriculture, seeds for rice, corn, and potatoes had been unlocked, and livestock had also been opened. However, in the system shop, only chickens were currently available, while the others remained grayed out.
Miao Suisui nearly cried tears of joy. After eating pancakes and noodles for so many days, she could finally eat rice, vegetables, and meat.
After the upgrade, there were still crystal cores remaining. She bought two bags of seeds for each type of grain and vegetable. Chickens cost one crystal core each, so she directly placed thirty hens and thirty roosters into the farm. She also spent two crystal cores to buy two large bags of chicken feed, and immediately received a prompt that two robots had begun working.
Miao Suisui then opened the general store icon. A three-dimensional stall instantly appeared before her, vivid and lifelike. As she moved the store with her fingers, a flat map of the town appeared. Green boxes indicated places where it could be placed, while red boxes showed where placement was not allowed.
Miao Suisui chose a spot by the roadside, closer to her house and the thatched huts, and placed the general store there.